Balance

Oh balance, how we love you. We (as in the great "we" of common wisdom) talk about how our lives should be in balance. How we should carefully balance between all the things we love to do and need to do. It is about finding the right balance between what should be doing and taking care of ourselves or find the balance between work and fun or being a parent and having a social life. Oh balance, you drive me crazy.
Instead of balance, how about passion! If we balance all the little things that we "should" be doing, we can loose passion for what we could be doing. The people who really make a difference aren't focused on a little of this and a little of that, like some well balanced meal. They are passionately living out their life's call. Perhaps they don't do all the things they "ought" to do, but who made that list anyway. Perhaps, sit down for this, they even had a dirty house because they weren't in balance and chose to work an extra hour or volunteer an extra hour or play with their kids or whatever it is their calling to do.
Some people may be concerned if we give too much, we won't have enough time for ourselves, enough "me time" to recharge. If what you are doing doesn't give you energy, then maybe you shouldn't be doing it. I'm not saying don't have down time, but if you schedule is full of draining activities that you have to get through so you can have the "me time" you want, then maybe you need to reevaluate your schedule. Or, change your attitude about what you are doing.

Get out of balance and live with passion.

Have to

Recently I decided to give up "have to". Like I have to do the dishes before I go to bed. I have to brush my teeth three times a day. I have to be in a good mood when I see my friends. I'm not giving up a lot. I'm not a big have to person anyway. Well, so I thought. It really changes how I think about things. I don't have to do the dishes, but I am going to do the dished because I like a clean kitchen. I don't have to call someone, but I enjoy hearing what is new. I don't have to do the laundry, but I would prefer to wear clean clothes. Sometimes I prefer to just put on the dirty jeans.
What has happen is finding the joy behind some of the things I thought were "have to's". And finding the freedom to just let things go. Usually the consequence won't be that bad, which is another freeing thought.
Another mind game to play with this is "what if" . What if I try blacksmithing? I may be bad at it. What if I'm bad at it? Then ...the other kids will laugh....no, probably not that. I am bad at blacksmithing, btw, but after a few frustrating classes I'm really starting to enjoy benind metal. Mine doesn't look at nice, but I'm not doing it to compare myself with other people.
So, in case someone out there is wondering why I'm not talking about theology with this post, I am. If Christ sets us free, then we should live in that freedom and not bind ourselves with new laws and rules and worries. It all comes back around to God.
Claim your freedom! Well, you don't have to, but you might like it.